Learn chinese

After spending four months at Fudan University so I decided to try my luck in the second half Jiaotong da xue (Jiaotong University).

The main reason for this change? I think that puts too much Fudan forward (and mints) the reputation it has gained in other disciplines, to attract foreign students in Mandarin classes without providing working conditions and during the height this reputation and higher price we pay.

Fudan University (Photo credit: Alva Chien)

After I registered and Jiaotong have already been several hours, here is the comparison I can draw:
1 – The organization
While at Fudan was often little information, the dates are reported at the last moment Jiaotong we know all the important dates in advance.

While at Fudan must get a building to another (often 20 minutes walk from each other), Jiaotong every effort to foreigners are concentrated in a single building.

While at Fudan we spend our life copy information to’ll see Jiaotong deliver paper in English and Chinese with his schedule etc …

2 – The quality of local
Fudan premises are old and tiny (former dormitory foreigners as classrooms). A Jiaotong premises are modern and recently restored after the building in which it is located and the classrooms are a good size as well as being clean.

3 – The quality of the books
While at Fudan was one book (albeit in 3 to 4 volumes per semester) for all courses, we Jiaotong 1 pound per yard (two volumes each): one for speech, one for listening , one for reading.

While at Fudan books have 30 contexts with often inadequate and obsolete words, books on social themes Jiaotong recent (eg internet) and words used by the Chinese in the life of every day. More books are more fun and are equipped with CD inside books while Fudan only offers audio K7 we must ask more.

English: Fudan University Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4 – The quality of teachers
Many teachers Fudan are older and less outward. All my teachers Jiaotong have 25 to 30 years, they are very dynamic and the energy they bring to their courses can stay involved during the hour and a half of the course. A teacher told me during the ceremony that teachers Jiaotong are also noted and that part-time faculty do not see their contracts renewed if their rating is good.

5 – The quality Mandarin courses
It follows from the factors I just mentioned. I really feel like learning to best Jiaotong Fudan because the approach seems more teaching through books used.

6 – The location of the university
The Jiaotong University also has advantages in terms of location on the fringes of the city center while Fudan Xujiahui is really far from everything.

7 – The reputation of the degree
Both schools have a good reputation, that of Fudan tends to fall, it Jiaotong tends to rise, but Fudan is undoubtedly the most famous. To say that studying at Fudan causes very positive feedback from Chinese.

I am not unhappy with having spent the first half just so I can mention that degree on my resume. But I urge them to do the second half (and the following for those who want to study in depth) Jiaotong because ultimately what is most important is to really speak Chinese!

Fudan currently the highest concentration of foreign students in Shanghai, but it is notable that many students choose to change language university in the second half (in my knowledge of Fudan only 1 in 5 students remained at Fudan and many of them did so for reasons of scholarship preventing it from changing university or question flème change of place …).

Fudan plays too much on its reputation as a prestigious university to attract foreigners by charging ADDITION more expensive than all other universities, without providing an educational service to the height of the price paid. Already affecting their ability to retain students and it is likely that this term also affects the flow of new students if they do not modernize their offerings.